In case you missed it: unforgettable quotes from the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games
The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games witnessed unforgettable moments of sport, history and personal triumph. Athletes from all walks of life delivered powerful messages, shared their deepest emotions, and reminded the world of the limitless possibilities of the human body and mind.
Read on to discover some of the most memorable quotes from Paralympians all around the world.
Defying the odds and embracing life
Loida Zabala (ESP), competing in her fifth Paralympic Games after being diagnosed with cancer just months earlier, was emotional about simply being there:
"The message I would like to send is that on many occasions you may be given news that you may not have expected. For example me - when they told me that I had advanced stage 4 cancer. But life can still give you gifts and moments that you don't expect. And that is why you have to enjoy life to the fullest - because we don't know how long we live, but what we do know is that the present is here and that we can enjoy it like never before."
Ali Truwit (USA), who lost her leg in a life-threatening shark attack in 2023, reflected on the importance of embracing a second chance:
"When I was faced with a life-changing trauma, I worked to see the positive and focus on gratitude and let that carry me. When you are truly faced with death and you understand what a second chance at life means, you want to make the most of it. So, I have worked to do that and it's not been without an incredible, incredible support system."
Zakia Khudadadi (RPT), after becoming the first-ever medalist for the Refugee Paralympic Team, used her platform to send a powerful message:
"Afghanistan is my country, and today the Taliban are in power in my country. It's important for me to show strength to the Afghan women and girls in the world. I've worked hard for that, to show them the medal. I hope the world does not forget the women and girls of Afghanistan."
Hannah Cockroft (GBR), following her win in the women’s 100m T34, shared a heartwarming moment that reminded her of the impact of her legacy:
"In the call room this morning, someone told me, ‘I watched you in 2012 and that’s why I am here.’ I really hope there are some girls at home who are doing the same because that’s what it’s all about. Hopefully, today, some new dreams have been born."
Ezra Frech (USA), who won two golds in Para athletics, spoke of his mission to change perceptions of disability:
"I believe I was put here on this earth to normalise disability, change perceptions about what is possible as an amputee, winning back-to-back golds, leading the Paralympic movement until 2028. That’s why it was written. The universe gave me the script and all I had to do was this, this, this, and this was going to happen tonight."
Yang Yue (CHN), who claimed gold in women’s F64 discus, shared an important message for her daughter:
"I want to tell my daughter this: it pays to persevere. If you persevere for long enough, your dreams may just come true."
Christie Raleigh-Crossley (USA), three-time Paris 2024 Para swimming medallist, responded powerfully to the verbal and online attacks she faced before the final:
"When I said earlier today that I wanted to change the perception of what a Paralympian is, and what you think of when you see a Paralympian - because I don't fit into their box, because you can't measure me with a measuring stick somehow that invalidates my disability. Because you can't see the hole in my brain. I'll shave my head tomorrow, and you can see the scar and the dent if you want."
Para canoeist Brianna Hennessy (CAN) discussed what it means to be a Paralympian:
"The Paralympics means so much more because everyone here has a million reasons to give up, and we've all chosen to just go on... It's a bigger picture than the medals, it's a bigger picture than our country's flag. It's all of us coming together on that world stage and representing something greater than ourselves."
The power of family and support
Geert Schipper (NED), who won bronze in the Para triathlon, spoke about what truly mattered to him:
"I'm so happy my family was here to support me, because to me, that's my gold medal. The medal I got here is called a bronze, but my gold medal is my family."
Christie Raleigh-Crossley (USA), spoke about expecting to break down during her victory ceremony after winning a surprise gold in the women’s 100m backstroke S9:
"I'm going to lose it on the podium later. I know I'm going to bawl like a little kid listening to the anthem. But, yeah, I feel like I made my kids proud, and that's all I really wanted."
Sanne Voets (NED), competing in Para equestrian at the historic Château de Versailles, sent a message to 17th-century French monarch Louis XIV in a poetic tribute to her horse, Demantur:
"Demi is my own Sun King. That's why I waved at the castle at the end. Thank you for lending us your property, for doing this dance. That's the biggest win for today."
Finding lightness in competition
Noah Hanssen (USA), a wheelchair fencer, summed up the joy of sword fighting with a childhood reference:
"I grew up on 'Star Wars' and 'Lord of the Rings'. Playing with swords is fun, that's the long and short of it. I knew that when I was seven. I know that now."
Jozef Metelka (SVK), after winning Para track cycling C4 individual Pursuit gold due to an opponent’s fall, couldn't help but laugh at his good fortune:
"I won with massive luck, come on. I was five seconds behind and I won because Archie fell. I was incredibly lucky. I mean, when was the last time something like this happened? When T-Rex was around?"
Korban Best (USA), looking ahead to LA 2028, revealed his plans for the dance floor:
"Moonwalk is one, the Dougie and maybe the jerk. I think LA (Los Angeles 2028) would appreciate a good Dougie. But I’ve got a couple of years to work on it (and) really perfect it."
Michael Roeger (AUS), who took silver in the Para athletics men’s 1500m T46, made light of his drastic appearance change:
“I’ve had long hair since 2019 but I thought I’d try and get a few more seconds (off his time) so I cut it. Then I thought I’d add a bit of peroxide to it. I was walking around the (Paralympic) Village with a hat on and nobody recognised me for the last few days. Someone said I looked like a white tiger.”
Aurelie Aubert (FRA), after reaching the final in boccia, revealed her secret for staying calm:
"I left my brain in the storage before going into the match. The pressure of the semifinal or the tiebreak didn't matter."
Alice Tai (GBR), who secured her second Para swimming gold in the women's 50m freestyle S8 at Paris 2024, shared a humorous yet nearly career-altering moment:
"I called (my coach) and I was like, 'I am going to have to retire, I am not getting back down to my times, I am like 20 seconds off in a 100m'. It turns out I was swimming in a 33m pool, not a 25m pool and I hadn't realised."
Lessons from sport and life
Esther Nworgu (NGR) reflected on what sport has taught her about herself on her path to Para powerlifting silver:
"While (competing) in sports there are a lot of things that you realise about yourself that you never knew. Sport is like an X-ray. It brings you out and shows you what you are inside."
Jason Tabansky (USA), reflected on what Para archery has taught him:
"In archery, if you have a bad shot you've got to let it go. You can't get that arrow back. So you've got to move on to the next one. In life, if you do something that didn't turn out right, you've got to forget about it and try and either fix it on the next try or just move on. Can't let it drag you down."
Nuanchan Phonsila (THA), who claimed bronze in the boccia mixed pairs BC4, shared how deeply her sport resonates with her:
"Boccia is a friend with whom I share a strong bond. And that's only the first part of the important place it holds in my life. To me, it has also been a gateway to opportunities and to meet new people around the world."
William Schoonover (USA), drew parallels between music and fencing:
"It feels like riffing and jazz, because so much of it is these weird syncopations and offbeats. If you create a rhythm like you're in a dance club, you're going to get hit all day long. But if you keep breaking up the rhythm and being hard to predict, then musically, it’s more like jazz."